Patient point-of-care garment

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a point-of-care garment configured for providing more efficient, effective, and accurate care to patients. Embodiments may include a point-of-care garment that includes an image sensing apparatus disposed proximate a cuff of a sleeve of the garment and at least one storage pocket, where each of the at least one storage pocket including identifying indicia. The point-of-care garment may further include a display disposed on a sleeve of the garment. The garment may further include a communications apparatus including a microphone and a speaker. The image sensing apparatus may be a barcode scanning apparatus. The identifying indicia of example embodiments may include a removable tag with at least one patient name, a barcode identifying a patient, or a patient location.

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a garment to be worn by anurse or care provider, and more particularly, to agarment that includesfeatures to facilitate patient point-of-care service.

BACKGROUND

Patient care within hospitals and healthcare facilities has become morecomplex with the advent of greater understanding of patient conditionsand a larger number of medications and treatment options available totreat the wide range of conditions of patients. As a result, the care ofpatients, even for the same condition, may vary considerably frompatient to patient. It is important to ensure that each patient isreceiving the proper care, treatment, and medications as prescribed bytheir physicians. Errors in care, such as incorrect medication,incorrect dosages, improper treatments, or the like, can result in harmto patients. As such, it is important for caregivers and nurses toensure patients are properly cared for according to the treatment plansprescribed by their physicians.

To help ensure that the patient receives the appropriate medication anddose, medication carts including compartments assigned to an individualpatient may be used to transport medication and dosages throughout ahospital or healthcare facility; however, such carts may be expensiveand may be cumbersome to navigate through crowded hospitals.Additionally, patient rooms may not provide enough room for a medicationcart to be placed bedside. Further, such medication carts may be leftunattended while a nurse performs other necessary tasks during routinepatient rounds. Leaving a cart unattended may leave the cart susceptibleto medication tampering or theft or cart misplacement.

Generally, when a medication cart is not used, a nurse may transportmedications for multiple patients in cups, on clipboards, in clothingpockets, or in hand. Transporting medications in these ways may allowmedications to be dropped, forgotten, intermixed, or otherwise not reachthe appropriate patients.

In addition to the foregoing, physical review of a patient and medicalchart to ensure correct medication, dosage, diet, etc. may be errorprone, particularly when physician instructions change or when a patientmay be incorrectly identified. Particularly in cases where patient namesor diagnoses may be similar, confusion between patients and theirrespective medications may be more likely.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to apoint-of-care garment configured for providing more efficient,effective, and accurate care to patients. Embodiments of the presentinvention may include a garment that includes an image sensing apparatusdisposed proximate a cuff of a sleeve of the garment, a communicationsapparatus configured to wirelessly communicate with a network, and atleast one storage pocket(s), where each of the at least one storagepocket includes identifying indicia. The point-of-care garment mayfurther include a display disposed on a sleeve of the garment. Thecommunications apparatus may include a microphone and a speaker. Theimage sensing apparatus may be a barcode scanning apparatus or abiometric scanning apparatus configured to detect biometric informationsuch as a retina, iris, fingerprint, facial recognition, hand geometry,etc. The identifying indicia of example embodiments may include aremovable tag with at least one patient name, a barcode identifying apatient, or a patient location. Further, the identifying indicia mayinclude a biometric identifier of a person (e.g., a fingerprint).

Garments according to example embodiments of the present invention mayinclude a display disposed proximate each of the at least one storagepocket where the identifying indicia of each of the at least one storagepockets is presented on the secondary display. The communicationsapparatus may include a transmitter and a receiver. The microphone andthe speaker may be integrally attached to the garment, where a housingincluding the transmitter and the receiver may be removable from thegarment. Garments according to embodiments of the present invention mayinclude a battery which may be removably received within the garment andembodiments may include an identification tag configured to track alocation of the garment. The image sensing apparatus may include a lightsource and the image sensing apparatus may be configured to detect abiometric identifier.

Embodiments of the present invention may include a method of operating apoint-of-care garment including receiving identifying indicia from animage sensing apparatus disposed on a sleeve of the garment, providingfor transmission of the identifying indicia to a network entity (e.g., aserver, a database, etc.), receiving information related to theidentifying indicia in response to providing for transmission of theidentifying indicia, and providing for display of at least a portion ofthe information received on a display disposed on a sleeve of thegarment. The information may also be communicated to the nurse via thespeaker audibly. The identifying indicia may include a barcodeidentifying a patient. The information related to the identifyingindicia may include at least one of a name of the patient, an image ofthe patient, a medication of the patient, or a birth date of thepatient. Further, the identifying indicia may include a biometricidentifier of a person (e.g., a fingerprint). The method may alsoinclude providing for transmission of a location of the garment within abuilding.

Embodiments of the present invention may provide a point-of-care garmentincluding a sleeve with an image sensing apparatus, at least one storagepocket including identifying indicia, a communications apparatus, aprocessing unit, and a battery. The garment may further include adisplay disposed on the sleeve. The processing unit may be configured toreceive patient identifying indicia from the image sensing apparatus andthe display may be configured to present patient information in responseto the processing unit receiving patient identifying indicia from theimage sensing apparatus. The point-of-care garment of exampleembodiments may further include a communications apparatus configuredfor transmitting and receiving information wirelessly. Thecommunications apparatus may include a microphone and a speaker, wherethe microphone and speaker may be configured to be removably attached tothe garment. The battery may be configured to be removably receivedwithin the garment. The garment may further include a garmentidentification tag configured to provide a location of the garment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are notnecessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a point-of-care garment according to an exampleembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example embodiment of a processing unit for apoint-of-care garment according to the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of workflow for using a point-of-care garmentaccording to an example embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not allembodiments of the inventions are shown. Indeed, these inventions may beembodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limitedto the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments areprovided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legalrequirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. The termstop, bottom, side, up, down, upwards, downwards, vertical, horizontal,and the like as used below do not imply a required limitation in allembodiments of the present invention but rather are used herein to helpdescribe relative direction or orientation in the example embodimentsillustrated in the figures.

Various embodiments of the present invention provide a point-of-caregarment to assist in the accurate and efficient administration ofmedication and treatment to a patient. While example embodiments aredescribed herein as used within a healthcare facility to providetreatment to a patient, embodiments of the present invention may be usedin other environments such as veterinary clinics, prisons, or anyenvironment in which accurate distribution of medications or otherarticles to properly identified individuals may be required.

Patient safety within a healthcare environment is of paramount concernand the proper administration of medication and other treatments areinstrumental in ensuring that patients are properly cared for. Withrising healthcare costs, healthcare facilities must operate asefficiently as possible in order to maximize resource allocation,including the allocation of personnel resources. The efficient operationof healthcare employees, such as nurses, may require the employee totreat as many patients as possible within a defined period of time(e.g., a shift). However, requiring nurses to treat as many patients aspossible during their shift may reduce the time that a nurse may spendwith each patient and reduce the amount of time available to double andtriple-check medications, dosages, treatments, and other servicesprovided to a patient. As such, it may be desirable to provide anapparatus which can improve the efficiency of a nurse and increase theaccuracy of the treatment provided to a patient.

An apparatus according to the present invention may include apoint-of-care garment that is configured to be worn by a nurse as theymake their rounds in a hospital or healthcare facility. The garment mayinclude means for identifying a patient, means for reviewing patientinformation, means for identifying one or more medications to beprovided to the patient, means for ensuring the proper medication isadministered, and means for communicating information between hospitalstaff and/or a hospital information network.

While example embodiments of the apparatus described herein aredescribed with respect to a nurse wearing the garment in a hospitalenvironment, it is appreciated that example embodiments of the inventionmay be implemented in other environments where point-of-care orpoint-of-interaction between a garment wearer and a patient, person, orobject, is located.

An apparatus according to the present invention may provide all of thesefeatures while being easy to implement into existing hospital andhealthcare facilities and reducing costs to a healthcare facility byincreasing efficiency, reducing the number of medicine carts that may berequired by a facility, and increasing accuracy of medicationdistribution and administration.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example embodiment of a point-of-care garmentaccording to example embodiments of the present invention. The garmentmay be a shirt or smock configured to be worn over the clothes of awearer, such as over the scrubs of a nurse. The garment 10 may include aprocessing unit 20 configured to interface with and control variousaspects of the garment including communications, user interface, etc.The garment 10 may further include an image sensing apparatus 30disposed on a sleeve of the garment 10 configured to scan identificationindicia from patients, medications, equipment, etc. The garment 10 mayfurther include pockets 40 configured to hold medication or articlesprescribed for specific patients.

The point-of-care garment 10 may also include communications apparatuswhich may include the ability to transmit and receive voice calls, suchas with a phone or a radio. The communications apparatus may be part ofthe processing unit and may further include a microphone and/or speaker50. The garment 10 may further include a primary display 60 disposed ona sleeve of the garment for viewing by a wearer of the garment. In someembodiments, the display 60 may include a flexible OLED display. Each ofthe pockets 40 of the garment may include identifying indicia 45 toidentify the medication or patient assigned to the pocket 40. Theidentifying indicia may be a printed adhesive label adhered to alocation proximate the pocket, a label inserted into a transparentpocket proximate the pocket 40, or a display located proximate thepocket. Each of these features will be described in detail below.

Certain ones of the aforementioned components may be removable from thegarment 10 for purposes of washing the garment or replacing thecomponents. Some components of the garment may be configured to bewashable (machine, hand wash, dry clean, etc.) while others may beremovable. The fabric of the garment 10 may be washable as would bedesirable in a clean work environment such as a healthcare facility.

Processing Unit

Embodiments of the present invention may be configured with a processingunit configured to receive and process information related to thepoint-of-care garment. The processing unit may be embodied as a mobiledevice, such as a mobile computer, a mobile phone, mobile communicationdevice, portable digital assistant (PDA), or any such computing devicecapable of performing functions described herein. FIG. 2 illustrates anexample embodiment of a processing unit 20. As illustrated in FIG. 2, inaccordance with some example embodiments, the processing unit mayinclude a processor 110, a memory 120, and a communications interface130 for performing the various functions described herein. Theprocessing unit, as described herein, may be embodied as, for example,circuitry, hardware elements (e.g., a suitably programmed processor,combinational logic circuit, and/or the like). The processing unit maybe removably received by the garment, for example in a pocket asillustrated in FIG. 1. The processing unit may be adapted to “dock”within the pocket in order to interface with the various components ofthe garment 10. For example, in an example embodiment in which theprocessing unit comprises the hardware and/or software for providingcommunications capabilities, the microphone and/or speaker 50 may beconnected to the processing unit by one or more wires. Docking theprocessing unit within a specifically configured pocket of the garmentmay provide a connection between the microphone/speaker 50 and theprocessing unit.

Processor 110 may, for example, be embodied as various means includingone or more microprocessors with accompanying digital signalprocessor(s), one or more processor(s) without an accompanying digitalsignal processor, one or more coprocessors, one or more multi-coreprocessors, one or more controllers, processing circuitry, one or morecomputers, various other processing elements including integratedcircuits such as, for example, an ASIC (application specific integratedcircuit) or FPGA (field programmable gate array), or some combinationthereof. Accordingly, although illustrated in FIG. 1 as a singleprocessor, in some embodiments processor 110 comprises a plurality ofprocessors. The plurality of processors may be embodied on a singlecomputing device or may be distributed across a plurality of computingdevices collectively configured to function as processing unit 20. Theplurality of processors may be in operative communication with eachother and may be collectively configured to perform one or morefunctionalities of processing unit 20 as described herein. In an exampleembodiment, processor 110 is configured to execute instructions storedin memory 120 or otherwise accessible to processor 110. Theseinstructions, when executed by processor 110, may cause processing unit20 to perform one or more of the functionalities of processing unit 20as described herein. As such, whether configured by hardware,firmware/software methods, or by a combination thereof, processor 110may comprise an entity capable of performing operations according toembodiments of the present invention while configured accordingly. Thus,for example, when processor 110 is embodied as an ASIC, FPGA or thelike, processor 110 may comprise specifically configured hardware forconducting one or more operations described herein. Alternatively, asanother example, when processor 110 is embodied as an executor ofinstructions, such as may be stored in memory 120, the instructions mayspecifically configure processor 110 to perform one or more algorithmsand operations described herein.

Memory 120 may comprise, for example, volatile, non-volatile memory, orsome combination thereof. Although illustrated in FIG. 1 as a singlememory, memory 120 may comprise a plurality of memories. The pluralityof memories may be embodied on a single computing device or distributedacross a plurality of computing devices. In various embodiments, memory120 may comprise, for example, a hard disk, random access memory, cachememory, flash memory, a compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM), digitalversatile disc read only memory (DVD-ROM), an optical disc, circuitryconfigured to store information, or some combination thereof. Memory 120may be configured to store information, data, applications,instructions, or the like for enabling processing unit 20 to carry outvarious functions in accordance with example embodiments of the presentinvention. For example, in at least some embodiments, memory 120 isconfigured to buffer input data for processing by processor 110.Additionally or alternatively, in at least some embodiments, memory 120is configured to store program instructions for execution by processor110. Memory 120 may store information in the form of static and/ordynamic information. This stored information may be stored and/or usedby processing unit 20 during the course of performing itsfunctionalities.

Communication interface 130 may be embodied as any device or meansembodied in circuitry, hardware, a computer program product comprisingcomputer readable program instructions stored on a computer readablemedium (e.g., memory 120) and executed by a processing device (e.g.,processor 110), or a combination thereof that is configured to receiveand/or transmit data from/to another device, such as, for example, asecond processing unit 20 and/or the like. In at least one embodiment,communication interface 130 is at least partially embodied as orotherwise controlled by processor 110. In this regard, communicationinterface 130 may be in communication with processor 110, such as via abus. Communication interface 130 may include, for example, an antenna, atransmitter, a receiver, a transceiver, network interface card and/orsupporting hardware and/or firmware/software for enabling communicationswith another computing device. Communication interface 130 may beconfigured to receive and/or transmit data using any protocol that maybe used for communications between computing devices. Communicationinterface 130 may additionally be in communication with the memory 120,user interface 140 and/or any other component of processing unit 20,such as via a bus. The communications interface may be configured forwireless communication between the processing unit 20 and a network 150,such as the network of a healthcare facility. The wireless communicationmay be implemented by any known wireless communication protocol.

User interface 140 may be in communication with processor 110 to receivean indication of a user input and/or to provide an audible, visual,mechanical, or other output to a user. As such, user interface 140 mayinclude, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a joystick, a display, atouch screen display, a microphone, a speaker, and/or other input/outputmechanisms. User interface 140 may be in communication with the memory120, communications interface 130, and/or any other component(s), suchas via a bus. The user interface, while depicted as part of theprocessing unit 20, may include remote devices such as a display, atouch-screen display, a microphone, a keypad, a camera, an image sensingapparatus, etc.

As noted above, the processing unit 20 may be “docked” within a pocketof the point-of-care garment where the processing unit interfaces withwired connections to components of the point-of-care garment such as thedisplay 60, the image sensing apparatus 30, the microphone/speaker 50,etc. The removability of the processing unit may allow the garment to bewashed or cleaned without requiring the processing unit to be imperviousto water or heat. Further, the processing unit 20 may be configured witha battery which may require periodic charging. The removability of theprocessing unit may permit the processing unit to be docked or pluggedinto a charging station between uses of the point-of-care garment. Theprocessing unit 20 may be interchangeable such that if a battery of apoint-of-care garment is low, the processing unit 20 including a batterymay be swapped out for another processing unit. Optionally, the batterymay be separately removable from the processing unit such thatreplacement of the battery may be independent of the processing unit.Further, docking of the processing unit in a charging station may alsodock or connect the processing unit with a server, such as a server of ahealthcare facility network. Connecting the processing unit with anetwork may permit software and firmware updates to be performed and mayallow information databases, if stored within the processing unit (e.g.,on memory 120) to be updated.

Image Sensing Apparatus

Embodiments of the present invention may be configured with an imagesensing apparatus 30, as illustrated in FIG. 1, configured to sense orread patient identifying indicia. The image sensing apparatus may beconfigured to read a barcode, such as with a barcode reader, and use thebarcode to identify a patient within a healthcare facility informationnetwork or database. Optionally, the image sensing apparatus may beconfigured to capture an image that may then be deciphered by aprocessing apparatus, such as processing unit 20 or a remote processingunit, such as a network server.

An image sensing apparatus according to embodiments of the presentinvention may include a conventional laser barcode scanning device ormay include a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera or similar passiveimage-gathering technology. The image sensing apparatus may furtherinclude an illuminating element to illuminate the identifying indiciafor capture. Such an illuminating element may provide visible orinvisible wavelengths of light to promote indicia recognition. The imagesensing apparatus may be disposed on a sleeve of the garment, asillustrated in FIG. 1, and may be sewn or otherwise attached to thesleeve. The position of the image sensing apparatus 30 may be such thata wearer of the garment 10 may simply position the sleeve of the garmentproximate an image to be scanned (such as a barcode) and the imagesensing apparatus 30 may capture the image. The image sensing apparatus30 may be encased in a substantially water impervious enclosure suchthat apparatus 30 may be washed with the garment without harm to theimage sensing apparatus 30. The garment may include wiring disposedwithin the garment, for example, woven into the fabric of the garment orpositioned between fabric layers of the garment, to connect the imagesensing apparatus 30 to the processing unit 20. The image sensingapparatus may provide an image to the processing unit 20 where the imagemay be deciphered, for example, by processor 110, to obtain thenecessary identifying indicia from the image.

The image sensing apparatus may be configured to scan an image inresponse to an input, such as the press of a button, where the buttonmay be disposed proximate the image sensing apparatus 30, on theprocessing unit 20, or otherwise disposed in an accessible position onthe garment. Optionally, the image sensing apparatus may be configuredto scan an image in response to a particular motion of the image sensingapparatus 30. For example, if the image sensing apparatus is moved to aparticular angle or encounters a predefined motion, as sensed by asensor such as an accelerometer, the image sensing device may capture animage or be configured to scan for identifying indicia.

The image sensed by the image sensing apparatus 30 may includeidentifying indicia such as a barcode, as noted above. The barcode maybe linear or one-dimensional barcode, a two-dimensional barcode, ahigh-capacity color barcode, or any such identifying indicia. Theindicia may be associated with a patient, a patient location (e.g., aroom), a medication, a medical supply or any such person, object, orlocation that may require identity verification. Upon sensing the imageto obtain the identifying indicia, the image may be received by theprocessing unit 20. Optionally, the image sensing apparatus may beconfigured with hardware and/or software configured to interpret theimage to provide the processing unit with the identification from theindicia rather than simply providing an image to the processing unit.

An image scanning apparatus according to example embodiments may furtherbe configured to detect biometric identifiers, such as a retina, iris,facial recognition, hand geometry, etc. Such biometric identificationmay allow identification of a patient without requiring a patientidentifying tag, such as a barcode bracelet, to be worn by the patient.

The processing unit may use the identification to reference a databaseof people (e.g., patients within a healthcare facility), a database ofmedications, a database of medical supplies, or the like. The referenceddatabase may provide information based upon the identification. Forexample, in an embodiment in which a patient wrist band including abarcode is scanned, the processing unit may use the identification fromthe wrist band to reference a database of patients. The database mayinclude a photograph of the patient, date-of-birth, medical condition,list of medications, procedure schedule, medical records, etc. Theprocessing unit may then provide for display of information related tothe identification. The information displayed may include a picture of apatient for confirmation of the patient's identity, informationregarding the patient such as a preferred name, allergies, possible druginteractions, etc. In an example embodiment in which a medication isscanned by the image sensing apparatus, the information presented on adisplay may include an image of the medication (e.g., a pill withidentifying marks or colors), the dosage, any possible druginteractions, and medication warnings (e.g., to take a medication withfood).

The database or databases referenced by the processing unit may belocated remotely from the point-of-care garment such that thepoint-of-care garment may transmit the identification to a network inorder to receive information related to the identified person or objectin return. Optionally, the database or databases may be stored withinmemory device 120 such that the processing unit may reference the memory120 to obtain information related to the identified person or object. Inan embodiment in which the database is stored within the processing unit20, the database or databases may be updated periodically (e.g., daily,hourly, etc.) by a network either wirelessly or via wired connectionwhen the processing unit may be docked for charging as described above.

Patient Specific Pockets

Medication carts are often used to transport medication doses within ahealthcare facility from a central or decentralized medication storagelocation to a patient. However, as noted above, these carts may havecertain limitations, which may cause a nurse to, instead, transportmedications in cups, on his/her clipboard, in his/her clothing pocket,etc. In one embodiment, the patient-specific pockets of thepoint-of-care garment can be used to replace those medication transportmeans.

As it is critical that patients receive the proper medication anddosage, identification of patient specific pockets of the garment may bedesirable. Reserving a single pocket for a single patient may help toensure medications are not inadvertently mixed or given to the incorrectpatient. Identification of each of these pockets may further assist anurse to verify that the appropriate patient is receiving theappropriate medication. Each of the patient specific pockets 40 may beadapted to receive identifying indicia 45 to be displayed proximate thepocket, such as on a flap closure of the pocket as illustrated inFIG. 1. The identifying indicia 45 may be printed on an adhesive labelwhich may be affixed to the pocket 40. In such an embodiment, the pocketmay be configured with a surface that may receive a removable adhesivelabel. The surface may permit the adhesive label to be removed once themedication from the pocket is dispensed. In another example embodiment,the pocket 40 may be configured with a transparent pocket adapted toreceive a printed label therein, where the identifying indicia of thelabel may be visible through the transparent pocket.

In another example embodiment of the invention, each patient-specificpocket 40 may be configured with a secondary display configured toprovide for display of patient and/or medication identifying indicia. Insuch an example embodiment, a nurse may load each pocket by scanningidentifying indicia of a prescription using the image sensing apparatus30 (thereby identifying the patient and the medication), scanningidentifying indicia of a medication from the prescription (therebyallowing the processing unit to confirm the medication is correct andthat the medication from the prescription has been obtained), andinserting the medication into a pocket that is identified. The pocketmay be identified by the display of the pocket or by the selection of apatient specific pocket by the nurse. The display of thepatient-specific pocket 40 may then display the patient name, medicationinformation, patient location, or any information which may bebeneficial to ensure the proper medication reaches the appropriatepatient.

Communications

As described above with respect to the processing unit 20, apoint-of-care garment according to example embodiments of the presentinvention may provide communications capabilities between the processingunit 20 and a network, such as the network of a healthcare facility.Embodiments of the present invention may further include communicationscapabilities between point-of-care garments or between the point-of-caregarment and any other communications apparatus (e.g., a cell phone, aland-line phone, etc.). A garment according to example embodiments mayinclude a microphone and/or speaker 50. While the example embodiment ofFIG. 1 depicts the microphone and speaker as a single unit, embodimentsmay include separate microphones and speakers. The microphone/speaker 50may be in wired or wireless (e.g., Bluetooth®) communication with theprocessing unit 20.

The processing unit may be configured to provide communication via awireless communications protocol. For example, the processing unit maybe capable of operating in accordance with second-generation (2G)wireless communication protocols IS-136 (time division multiple access(TDMA)), GSM (global system for mobile communication), and IS-95 (codedivision multiple access (CDMA)), or with third-generation (3G) wirelesscommunication protocols, such as Universal Mobile TelecommunicationsSystem (UMTS), CDMA2000, wideband CDMA (WCDMA) and timedivision-synchronous CDMA (TD-SCDMA), with 3.9G wireless communicationprotocol such as evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network(E-UTRAN), with fourth-generation (4G) wireless communication protocols(e.g., Long Term Evolution (LTE) or LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) or the like. Asan alternative (or additionally), the processing unit 20 may be capableof operating in accordance with non-cellular communication mechanisms.For example, the processing unit 20 may be capable of communication in awireless local area network (WLAN) or other communication networks.

As such, the processing unit may provide the garment wearer the abilityto communicate with other point-of-care garment wearers or otherhealthcare facility personnel as necessary.

Example embodiments of the point-of-care garment may include userinputs, such as buttons disposed on the processing unit or otherwise incommunication with the processing unit to initiate, conduct, or end acommunication session. For example, a button may be disposed on aportion of the processing unit that is accessible when the processingunit is in a docking pocket of the point-of-care garment. In response toa press of the button, the wearer may be able to speak a voice commandinto the microphone/speaker 50 to instruct the processing unit toinitiate a communication session (e.g., a phone call) with a particularindividual or department within the healthcare facility. Optionally, apress of the button may initiate a call to an operator of the healthcarefacility which may then direct the call as instructed by the wearer ofthe point-of-care garment.

Location Information

Example embodiments of point-of-care garments may further providelocation information of the garment within a healthcare facility. Thewireless communications capabilities of the processing unit of thepoint-of-care garment may provide location information by obtainingsignal strength of known wireless communication beacons and using therelative strengths to ascertain location. For example, if a wirelesscommunication beacon of a healthcare facility is located in a lab, butis not capable of broadcasting outside of the lab, a point-of-caregarment with a processing unit in communication with said beacon may beable to positively identify that the garment is within the lab.Optionally, the point-of-care garment may include a radio frequencyidentification tag which may signal the location of the garment within ahealthcare facility by broadcasting to location beacons throughout thefacility or through other location mechanisms known to one of ordinaryskill in the art.

Workflow

FIG. 3 illustrates an example embodiment of the workflow of a nurseimplementing an example embodiment of the point-of-care garmentaccording to the present invention. A nurse may begin his/her shiftdonning the point-of-care garment and inserting a charged processingunit 20 into the docking pocket of the garment 10. The nurse may thenobtain medications for patients that he/she will visit on his/herrounds. The nurse may obtain medications and pocket labels at a centralor decentralized medication storage location at operation 300. The nursemay insert a medication corresponding to a specific label into a pocket,and attach the label including patient identifying indicia to the pocketat 310. The nurse may then begin rounds including visiting a patient.The nurse may scan a wristband of a patient to obtain the properidentification of the patient at 320 using an image sensing device 30disposed on the sleeve of the garment. The nurse may then viewinformation related to the patient on the display 60 on the sleeve ofthe garment at 330. The information may include information confirmingthe identity of the patient and/or the appropriate medication for thepatient. The nurse may then retrieve medication for the patient from thepocket corresponding to the patient according to the label at 340. Themedication may be confirmed as correct by scanning the medication usingthe image sensing device 30 at 350 and receiving a confirmatory tone orindication on the display 60.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forthherein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which theseinventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in theforegoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is tobe understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specificembodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments areintended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a genericand descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

That which is claimed:
 1. A point-of-care garment comprising: an imagesensing apparatus disposed on the garment; a communications apparatusconfigured to wirelessly communicate with a network; and at least onestorage pocket, each of the at least one storage pocket comprising anidentifying indicia.
 2. The garment of claim 1, further comprising aprimary display disposed on a sleeve of the garment.
 3. The garment ofclaim 1, wherein the communications apparatus comprises a microphone anda speaker.
 4. The garment of claim 1, wherein the image sensingapparatus is disposed on a sleeve of the garment and comprises a barcodescanning apparatus.
 5. The garment of claim 1, wherein the identifyingindicia comprises a removable tag with at least one of a patient name, abarcode identifying a patient, or a patient location.
 6. The garment ofclaim 1, further comprising a secondary display disposed proximate eachof the at least one storage pocket wherein the identifying indicia ofeach of the at least one storage pockets is presented on a said display.7. The garment of claim 1, wherein the communications apparatus includesa transmitter and a receiver.
 8. The garment of claim 7, wherein themicrophone and speaker are integrally attached to the garment, andwherein a housing comprising the transmitter and the receiver areremovable from the garment.
 9. The garment of claim 1, furthercomprising a battery, wherein the battery is removably received withinthe garment.
 10. The garment of claim 1, further comprising anidentification tag configured to track a location of the garment. 11.The garment of claim 1, wherein the image sensing apparatus comprises alight source.
 12. The garment of claim 1, wherein the image sensingapparatus is configured to detect a biometric identifier.
 13. A methodof operating a point-of-care garment, comprising: receiving identifyingindicia from an image sensing apparatus disposed on the garment;providing for transmission of the identifying indicia to a networkentity; receiving information related to the identifying indicia inresponse to providing for transmission of the identifying indicia; andproviding for display of at least a portion of the information receivedon a display disposed on a sleeve of the garment.
 14. A point-of-caregarment, comprising: a sleeve comprising an image sensing apparatus; atleast one storage pocket comprising identifying indicia; acommunications apparatus; a processing unit; and a battery.
 15. Thepoint-of-care garment of claim 14, further comprising a display disposedon the sleeve.
 16. The point-of-care garment of claim 15, wherein theprocessing unit is configured to receive patient identifying indiciafrom said image sensing apparatus and wherein the display is configuredto present patient information in response to the processing unitreceiving patient-identifying indicia from said image sensing apparatus.17. The point-of-care garment of claim 14, further comprising acommunications apparatus configured for transmitting and receivinginformation wirelessly.
 18. The point-of-care garment of claim 14,wherein the communications apparatus comprises a microphone and aspeaker, wherein the microphone and the speaker are configured to benon-removably attached to said garment.
 19. The point-of-care garment ofclaim 14, wherein said battery is configured to be removably receivedwithin said garment.
 20. The point-of-care garment of claim 14, furthercomprising a garment identification tag, wherein said garmentidentification tag is configured to provide a location of the garment.